Petroleum and Industrial: The Role Liquid Flow Meter Plays for Both

Flow meters have been around since early civilization. Ancient Egyptians used a nilometer to measure the Nile River. Their goal was to predict the quality of harvests.

Today, the need for precise measurement increases advances right along with technology. Flow meters are still essential instruments across many different industries.

Fuel and oil is one example, as is petrochemical. General industrial use is another.

What is a Flow Meter?

As the name implies, a liquid flow meter measures liquid or gas flow through a pipe. It also measures the liquid’s rate of change. Each meter has different features. They address differences in the temperature and viscosity of liquid or gas.

Control valves pair with flow meters to direct the fluid and normalize velocity. These functions maintain the necessary pressure level. Flow meters also control the fluid’s velocity and use. They save water by detecting leaks within the pipes.

Finally, engineers measure low flows of diesel, gasoline, and sometimes even fuel cells. They use flow meters to determine the water and fuel combination. Flow meters also determine the energy output from the fuel and water combinations.

Types of Flow Meters

The following are the most common flow meter types used in industrial applications.

Coriolis Meters

Coriolis meters measure true mass flow. Coriolis meters are one of the most precise meters for steady, single-phase flows. They perform well with many liquid and gas applications.

They provide multiparameter data about density, mass, and temperature. You will find Coriolis meters in pharmaceutical manufacturing and nuclear facilities.

You can also see them in wastewater treatment facilities.

Differential Pressure Flow Meters

Differential pressure flow meters identify the speed of flow by gauging pressure variations. They have a flow-restrictive orifice that measures the pressure drop through the restriction.

For prompt response time, the differential pressure flow meter is your best choice. It calculates the fuel output.

Gear Meters (Positive Displacement)

Positive displacement gear meters use counter-synchronized gears. These gears link together and rotate with the liquid flow. The meter controls the liquid transferred.

So, the meters are quite precise. These meters are well-suited for high-viscosity liquids. Gear meters also work well with fuel or oil transfers and in the pulp and paper industry.

Petrochemical industries also use them because the gears are stainless steel. Thus, they hold up to heavy oils.